HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 09.21.1999MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Ken Olson Gary Temple
Gay Easton Miles Walton
Bill Staudinger Norman Orr
OTHERS PRESENT: V. Joe Leckie Rick Musson
Mary Embleton Andy Loebe
Duke Nieskens
Smokey Staudinger stated that a citizen recently complained about branches that were broken
off some trees by the gazbage truck. Andy Loebe will take care of the problem.
Ken Olson reported that the Drug Task Force is sponsoring a community meeting on Monday,
October 18u', at 7:00 p.m. at the Laurel High School Auditorium. Agencies that provide
services to abusers and victims of drugs and alcohol will be available at that meeting.
The YMCA met recently and is optimistic about their fixture direction.
Duke Nieskens has videotape of the inspection that was done at the storage tank available for
the council's review. Some work is being done on the sewer system. The cleaning of the
intake pier is taking longer than anticipated and should be completed by October 151. The
plant will be shut down on Tuesday, September 28`x, for ten to twelve hours while Montana
Power Company completes some work on the transformer. There will be no cost to the city
for this work. The contact basins at the WWTP will be cleaned soon.
Andy Loebe reported that there have been nine breaks in the waterline since the last week in
August. These breaks were located in the 300 block of East 4"', the 400 block of Idaho, the
700 block of East 5~', the 1000 block of East 5`h, and the 500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.
In the 300 block of East 411i, the cast iron line was replaced with six-inch PVC and a new
valve was installed. The crew has been reading meters, patching potholes, installing signs,
working at the pazks, continuing garbage collection and helping at the intake pier. On
Wednesday, they will be working on Briar Circle, Fairview Lane and West 12`~ Street and the
south part of Beartooth. Oil that is 60% water and 40% oil will be shot down on the street.
After it soaks in and seals the street, it will be sanded. The road should be reopened to traffic
within twenty to thirty minutes. Andy said that it is an easy application and he would like to
use it on more streets next spring if it works well. On Monday, the 27t1i, installation of the
water and sewer lines will begin at South Pond.
Rick Musson recently sent letters to Mayor Rodgers regarding use of the old ambulance by
the Police Department and the need to continue the drug dog program. The ambulance would
be used to transport inmates, for crime scene equipment, and as a command post. Rick plans
to have the dog handler raise the necessary funds to finance the drug dog program. These two
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items will be discussed further at the Emergency Services Committee meeting. Gary Temple
asked Rick to provide a recap of the activities and costs incurred from the previous drug dog.
Gary Temple emphasized that drivers need to remember that school is in session and
pedestrians have the right of way at marked intersections.
Joe Leckie will be attending the City Attorney's Seminar at the Montana League of Cities and
Towns in Bozeman on Thursday and Friday, the 23`d and 24th, and he asked the council for
their input regarding any needed discussion at that meeting.
Mary Embleton mentioned that the council received the Preliminary Budget. Norm Klein
informed Mary this afternoon that the figures received from the State of Montana were not
exactly correct. Norm stated that the taxable value is correct; however, the Department of
Revenue understated the newly taxable figure that we use for our floating mill. Norm said
that the Department of Revenue only used Class 4 property for their new construction or
newly taxable property. Class 4 property includes residential and commercial property. They
did not include industrial or centrally assessed type property, so the city will be getting
increased revenues. Norm advised that we should hold up on adoption of the final budget
until the final figure is received. Mary recommended that the preliminary budget should be
adopted, and the revenue side of the budget could be revised after the figure is received. The
Budget/Finance Committee is comfortable with the appropriations, so any increased revenue
would go into the cash reserves. If the figures are not available before October 5th, the public
hearing could be continued to a later date.
The computer system conversion is ahead of schedule. A Black Mountain Software
representative did actual data capture while he was here on September 15`h. They recently set
up a way to capture data via the modem. Black Mountain Software will be here the week of
October 4"' for further work.
The office remodel is in process. The panels are being recovered and the computer desks
have arrived and need to be assembled. Jeanette will conduct business in the Public Works
Department while the office is being tom apart on Thursday and Friday, September 30`h and
October 15`.
Mayor Rodgers will be coordinating acity-county meeting for Tuesday, October 12ei for the
City of Billings, the City of Laurel, and the Yellowstone County Commissioners.
The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m
Respectfully submitted,
C~~,z d-~ G~~~.,~
Cindy Allen
City Council Secretary